Exclusive Breast-Feeding Was Associated with Lower Rates of Early Postpartum Relapse in Multiple Sclerosis

Can women with multiple sclerosis (MS) safely breast-feed? In an observational study of 466 pregnancies among 375 women with MS within Kaiser Permanente in California between 2008 and 2016, researchers examined disease characteristics, relapse rates, disability, breast-feeding, formula-feeding, and introduction of solid foods. Disease-modifying therapy (DMT) had been discontinued for at least 1 year prior to pregnancy in 48% of the women, 26% conceived while receiving a DMT, and only 3% were using a highly effective DMT. Overall likelihood of relapse declined during pregnancy then returned to prepregnancy levels by 4 to 6 months postpartum. During the year following pregnancy, relapses occurred in 26% of women.

Within the first 6 months post…